If you’re in Singapore more than a couple days, you may eventually get sick of chicken rice and chilli (or pepper) crab, or durians, and decide it’s time to hit Singapore’s fine dining scene.

Some questions to get you started: Do you have a large trust fund? Great, you’ll be fine. If not, are you a Singaporean instagrammer/blogger/flogger invited to a freebie? Then the prices won’t be an issue – particularly if you’re being paid to promote a restaurant (“OMG! Bae! Amazeballs!). This happens more often than you think, and one reason why I wouldn’t trust Singaporean instagrammers. Don’t believe me? Check out the deluded souls in The Straits Times, and laugh & weep reading about how they believe they aren’t compromised in “reviewing” venues. My friend, Victoria, has also had a good rant about this as well. But I digress…

Singapore has more than its fair share of expensive linen and cutlery. Honestly, it is overrepresented in the San Pellegrino’s Asia’s 50 Best list (I can hear the Singaporeans booing impotently from as far away as Europe where I’m typing this…), but that says a lot about the judging system (and maybe as much about how hard it is to get a table at Raw in Taipei, because that really should be number one). Arguably, giving the top spot to Gaggan in Bangkok says as much about how judges can be swayed with a few fireworks rather than substance…

Back to the topic at hand! The lion city also has a lot of degustation menus. If, like me, you find degustations a tyranny, then you’ll just have to suck it up in most cases, and suck in your belly at the end of the meal. Finding fancy restaurants in Singapore isn’t too hard, but finding a great fine dining restaurant is about as easy finding free range eggs in Fairprice. The scene keeps changing (I hazard to say evolving), but here are a few of my favourites:

Burnt Ends is a Singapore fav. Dave Pynt flies the flag for Australians cooking a great steak and offering a decent wine list. Do. Not. Miss. The. Steak. But order the marron (pictured below) if it’s on the menu, and squeeze in a marshmallow (or three) after dessert. If you’re residing (or trapped) in Singapore, it’s worth following the Burnt Ends instagram account because a couple Sundays a year they hold a party and cook great pizzas in those brilliant ovens.

Cure quickly became a regular for me. After making Esquina a great dining spot, Andrew Walsh has opened a brilliant, modern fine dining space around the corner. This is my pick for the best value fine dining in Singapore – strong fundamentals with a touch of genius (like the baked scallop, salt cod potato and pea puree below). Cure is made even better with the ever-welcoming Tim Dopson managing the floor and guiding you through the wine list. Unless you’re on a date, the small bar at the front is also a good option.

Everyone talks about Sunday brunches, but if you don’t need bottomless champagne and gluttony, try Les Amis for a classy lunch. This will hit most of the fine dining clichés – foie gras, caviar, maybe a soufflé to finish – but it does it with style and taste.

Two other restaurants are worth mentioning: Waku Ghin(pictured below) and the Tippling Club. Both aren’t cheap (especially if you opt for Krug by the glass, oops…) but they’re worth visiting at least once. The Tippling Club brought back memories of Melbourne’s Vue De Monde (remember when it was still great?!). An extra tip for Waku Ghin – there’s a bar attached with some very talented bar tenders and a small food menu. If you’re very nice to them, they might let you order from the restaurant dessert menu… One gripe – leaving Waku Ghin and walking out into the casino is really tacky and depressing, but that goes hand in hand with a venue that directs status-obsessed diners to the “Celebrity Chef” restaurants, rather than – you know – the restaurants with good food.

One more warning: In nearly all cases, wine prices will make you weep if you’ve ever left Singapore. If you’re on a budget, drink like a Mormon or try and sneak a hip flask in. One tip for residents wanting to stock a wine fridge – champagne has less mark up, and you can get a decent bottle of champagne for $40-50, as opposed to a very average bottle of red.

Of course this isn’t all there is to Singapore’s fine dining scene. I never got to some places, while a couple others just didn’t leave a memorable impression (maybe I need a memory spoon to remind me…shudders). There are also some good mid-range alternatives – Maggie Joan’s, Long Chim, Moosehead Kitchen & Bar, etc (thanks to David Thompson and Daniel Ballis for spicing up the city!) – though the dearth of good venues between hawker food and super-expensive is probably one of the biggest drawbacks to the Singapore food scene (cue the desperate retorts – sorry, I can’t hear you above all the hype and hot air, and your sponsored posts!).

You won’t get bang for your buck in Singapore – particularly if you compare prices and experiences to pretty much anywhere else – but order wisely, and go easy on the wine, and you might just enjoy yourself. Just don’t look at the receipt.

Advertisements

]]>https://manversusbean.com/2016/03/20/fine-dining-in-singapore-can/feed/2thumb_IMG_5879_1024manversusbeanthumb_IMG_5850_1024thumb_IMG_5814_1024thumb_IMG_6957_1024thumb_IMG_9062_1024IMG_8178_1024Blood and gutshttps://manversusbean.com/2014/07/03/blood-and-guts/
https://manversusbean.com/2014/07/03/blood-and-guts/#respondThu, 03 Jul 2014 01:20:34 +0000http://manversusbean.com/?p=1099My own Hannibal Lecter moments recently were better than I could have imagined: its body crushed, the guts and brains spread across my tongue, and down it went. But mostly it was the spice I could taste. Best chased down with a sip of wine. My first cricket.

Time to rant about a couple of my favourite restaurants, with interesting servings of things I wouldn’t normally seek out. But that’s the sign of a good restaurant, isn’t it? At least it is, when I keep coming back. I’ll get to the crickets, but first, let’s talk blood sausage.

Ester is a great example of modern Australian dining – creative, sexy, confident. I’ve had trouble convincing CrazyCatLady to return after their Omnivore night (the duck hearts were an organ too far), but the regular menu is more friendly and accessible, while still being creative and original. You’ll be rewarded by stretching your palate – give the blood sausage sanga a chance. Yes, a lot of us love blood sausage, but I’m constantly surprised by how many people are still squeamish. There’s an intensity of flavour to blood sausage which reminds me of a Bunnings sausage sizzle, cooked by a heavenly host of angels. Just eat the damn sausage.

Blood sausage sanga – bloody beautiful

As Lethlean reviewed in The Australian “Ester is a knockout in just about every sense that matters“. With food this good, fine dining isn’t dying – we’re just losing the Swarovski and white linen. The duck terrine I had recently was among the best I’ve ever eaten, and the wine list is wonderful and exciting. I’m lunching there soon with MrAlpha and MissAlpha and I’m sure their paleo proclivities will be satisfied as well.

Ester: wine, duck terrine, raw fish & salted caramel

Another new favourite venue is Stanley Street Merchants. Some may consider its location just metres from my gym a cruel twist, but I think it’s a gift from the gods. I was pleasantly surprised when the BookWorm was happy not only to gorge on several courses of sweets, but game to try a dessert of marshmallow toasted with charcoal, dried berries, flowers and ants. Crickets are also on the menu – my tip is try them in a group if you’re squeamish as there are quite a few in a bowl.

Crickets at Stanley Street

We couldn’t help but snap pictures of little ants caught in marshmallow. It’s fun food, which adds to the overall experience. And it’s not just lunches and dinners here: my favourite things at Stanley Street have nothing to do with bugs. The St Ali coffee is decent – the best coffee in the area – and the house-made doughnuts are delicious. If anything keeps my coming back, those little doughy balls of goodness will… Apart from the bugs and sweets, there’s a good wine list and some nice regular dishes – the chicken, in particular, smells great.

Marshmallow with ants at Stanley Street

But get there soon – Stanley Street is only open for another five weeks or so. Like a phoenix, let’s hope they rise from the ashes later in the year (and maybe put phoenix on the menu).

Doughnuts at Stanley Street

Did eating crickets at Stanley Street Merchants lead to a life-changing epiphany? Not really – my memory is a lot of spice, a lot of crunch. And much as I love the sanga at Ester, after one serve, I’m happy to veer into more “regular” eating. But I wouldn’t be put off ordering them again, and recommend you try Ester and Stanley Street – even with the slugs and snails (or thereabouts), they’re still sugar and spice, and everything nice.

]]>https://manversusbean.com/2014/07/03/blood-and-guts/feed/0IMG_6384manversusbeanBlood sausage sandwichEsterCrickets at Stanley StreetMarshmallow with ants at Stanley StreetDoughnuts at Stanley StreetSydney coffee – a few favourite thingshttps://manversusbean.com/2014/03/09/sydney-coffee-a-few-favourite-things/
https://manversusbean.com/2014/03/09/sydney-coffee-a-few-favourite-things/#commentsSun, 09 Mar 2014 09:30:12 +0000http://manversusbean.com/?p=1062It’s okay to have favourites, isn’t it? Favourite food, favourite show, favourite child… I wouldn’t dare rule on the best cafes in Sydney – that’s very much a matter of personal taste. It’s a bit like commenting on the best band. And while I’m a Nine Inch Nails fan, there’s always a Mumford & Sons weirdo out there, somewhere. But, despite your tastes, some bands – and cafes – are undeniably better than others. I’ve also noticed my coffee preferences are geographic – I might drink a macchiato at one, an espresso at another, a piccolo at a third. Variety is the spice of life after all, is it not? Here are some of my current favourite coffee haunts in Sydney.

Campos in Newtown

Campos in Newtown is the original, flagship store. Yes, you may have had campos in another cafe, but that’s a little like visiting a church and thinking you’ve been to the Vatican. Campos sources some excellent single origin beans, but their house blend – Campos Superior – really is superior. The service is efficient and exacting, and their macchiato is a work of art. Food is limited (so as not to interfere with the coffee smells), but the pastries are tasty. Go here. Now.

Brewtown Newtown

Brewtown Cronut

The gnome marks the spot. If you follow me on twitter (and if you don’t, maybe you should..), you’re probably sick of my cronut tweets by now. But Brewtown is more than the sum of its cronuts. Lovely coffee, a great breakfast and lunch menu, with a great fit out and friendly service. The free sparkling water is a bonus. If you’re not full from the cronuts, try the affogato bar upstairs which is excellent and deserves more attention – especially from the mob outside waiting for a seat downstairs.

Paramount Coffee Project

Baked fruit @ PCP – my current obsession

The Paramount Coffee Project (PCP) in Surry Hills is a stunning space. Think of it as a collaborative project, not just in ownership but in the coffee they bring in – not just international single origins, but roasted by different cafes locally and overseas. One week it may be the Coffee Collective in Copenhagen, then Square Mile in London. The food menu is worth dipping your fingers into as well.

Reuben Hills, Surry Hills

Before there was PCP, there was Reuben Hills. I loved Russell Beard’s cafe in Mosman, The Source – good coffee, always open, friendly stuff – and followed him to Surry Hills when he opened Reuben Hills. The fit out is impressive, the music is pumping, and again the food menu compliments with excellent coffee. Just beware on weekends, the queues build quickly – even if a lot of coffee geeks have decamped to PCP.

Sample Coffee, Surry Hills

Sample Espresso is a small, and easy to miss, but they serve good coffee (from Mecca, last I checked), and have some tasty snacks if you’re feeling peckish. Another plus, they’re seconds away from Movida in Sydney…

Single Origin, Surry Hills

Single Origin Roasters always dependable, excellent coffee, a dedicated take away section and some great food to boot. This is a favourite, though I pass by less than I like.

Mecca Espresso, King St

Mecca Espresso on King St is my favourite Sydney CBD spot. A few loyalists have probably decamped to Gumption nearby (the Strand arcade is quieter to be fair), but a Mecca coffee is stronger, and they’ll serve sparkling with the coffee which is always welcome.

Sydney Cafe Montage – Toby’s Estate, Coffee Alchemy, et al.

Then there are a number of cafes I love but don’t get to quite as often as I’d like: Gumption, Coffee Alchemy, Don Campos, Excelsior Jones, Gypsy, Room 10, The Bunker, Workshop Espresso, Toby’s Estate… Again, it’s like music – we all have our favourites and it’s a matter of personal taste. Well ok, Starbucks and Miley Cyrus just suck…

]]>https://manversusbean.com/2014/03/09/sydney-coffee-a-few-favourite-things/feed/1IMG_9918manversusbeanCampos in NewtownBrewtown in NewtownBrewtown CronutParamount Coffee ProjectParamount CoffeeReuben Hills, Surry HillsSample CoffeeSingle OriginMecca EspressoSydney CafesLondon and Paris – the real must-seeshttps://manversusbean.com/2013/10/23/london-and-paris-the-real-must-sees/
https://manversusbean.com/2013/10/23/london-and-paris-the-real-must-sees/#respondWed, 23 Oct 2013 08:26:57 +0000http://manversusbean.com/?p=1040Wondering what the must-visit sights are in London and Paris at the moment?

Sure, in London you can visit Westminster, ride the London Eye, lunch at the Ledbury and dine with Heston. But my pick is a small place in Soho – 10 Greek Street – introduced to me by a good friend, full-time lawman and part-time foodie, MrNobody. Now MrNobody is a bit like a hipster bicycle – only one gear, doesn’t get there first, but that’s made up for by an abundance of charm and taste. 10 Greek Street is MrNobody’s favourite restaurant in the whole world, and I can see why.

10 Greek Street menu

The menu changes daily, with a good selection of dishes worth sharing – there might be chorizo, crab, lamb. And the wine, oh my! Unfortunately I drank them out of 2009 Nine Popes (cheaper in the restaurant than Australian bottle shops) – sorry! – but the short list as smart and will please most. One other recommendation? If you can, sit at the bar – as I did with TheFlamingo – and chat to the staff, see what comes out of the kitchen, order as you go.

Chorizo sandwich – how good does this look?!

And as for Paris? Obviously there’s climbing the Eiffel Tower, gawking at the Louvre and an overpriced, overly long boat trip along the Seine, but skip all that and head straight to Septime. Now in the world’s top 50, Septime is not only smart, modern French cooking, it’s unbelievable value – you can do a three course fixed lunch for 28 euros. Yes. Madness. Utterly delicious madness. Given that so much food in Paris these days is made in factories and frozen (mon dieu!), this restaurant is a gem.

Dessert at Septime, Paris

Also in Paris, if you want to push the envelope and try something even more modern, grab a seat for dinner at Bones. Chef James Henry (formerly from Au Passage – also worth a look) will challenge your pallet with a creative and smart degustation menu – duck hearts were a favourite on my visit.

Duck hearts at Bones

Any visit to Paris is incomplete without something sweet, and I highly recommend the eclairs at Eclair de Genie. Christophe Adam is an artist and these sweets should probably hang in the Louvre. At around €8 an eclair, they’re not cheap, but the ingredients are superb – like this pistachio and strawberry eclair with intense French alpine strawberries.

By all means marvel Rothko at the Tate Modern in London, and climb the stairs to Paris’ Sacré Cœur if you have time, but put 10 Greek Street, Septime, Bones and Eclair de Genie on top of your must-see lists. They’re the real treasures you won’t forget.*

]]>https://manversusbean.com/2013/10/23/london-and-paris-the-real-must-sees/feed/0IMG_3610manversusbeanIMG_2538Chorizo sandwich - how good does this look?!Dessert at Septime, ParisDuck hearts at BonesEcair de GenieBerlin: a tale of cheesecake, more coffee, less lycrahttps://manversusbean.com/2013/07/09/berlin-a-tale-of-cheesecake-more-coffee-less-lycra/
https://manversusbean.com/2013/07/09/berlin-a-tale-of-cheesecake-more-coffee-less-lycra/#respondTue, 09 Jul 2013 10:58:34 +0000http://manversusbean.com/?p=1005Berlin has so much going for it. Over the last 20+ years, it’s transformed itself from a grim, antisocial, graffiti-covered orphan to an artistic, happy and cosmopolitan metropolis. This post will serve as a guide for my friend ShirleyTemple, visiting soon, but it’s also an update of my favourite Berlin places.

But first, a rant (come now, don’t be surprised). Actually, this is more a pleasant observation: Berlin is a city full of cyclists. It’s flat, has plenty of cycleways, and drivers generally aware of their two-wheeled cousins. But what is doesn’t have – thankfully – is lycra. No early-morning-hero-commuters dressed for the Tour, even if they’re riding 4km to a job as a lawyer at Mallesons (apology to any lawyer from Mallesons who happens to read this – now get back to work). How nice to see normal people, dressed like humans, engaged in a human activity. I’m still hooked on the U-banh and S-bahn (as a Sydneysider, effective public transport is a marvel), but I promise to get a bike for future visits.

Back to a few of my favourite things – starting, unsurprisingly, with coffee (shameless plug: see my earlier post). Good cafes are still relatively rare, but the scene is better than Paris, and there are a few good places. To avoid playing favourites, we’ll go geographically, starting with No Fire No Glory! in Prenzlauerberg (very gentrified, very Paddington, and not lacking in Australian accents and baristas).

Good coffee and food, a lovely location and cool artwork (bonus: wifi) make this a great place to relax, write postcards, and realise just how relaxed Berlin is as a city – hard to believe it’s a capital city. Maybe the real estate boom and ongoing gentrification will change all that. Walk about ten minutes south and you’ll end up at The Barn(they have another outpost nearby at Hackschermarkt). If coffee has a German stereotype, this might be it: great, rich coffee roasted on-site, a serious space, and an intolerance for prams (laptops are ok – just) which I love. There’s even a bollard… Brilliant.

Meanwhile, Five Elephantroasts in a more grungy part of town. The coffee is very good, but more importantly, they make the best cheesecake in the world. Ever. Yes, I haven’t tried every cheesecake in the world, but stop arguing and eat the damn cake at Five Elephant.

Finally, there’s Double Eye toward the south (Akazienstrasse 22). They don’t get as many tourists and seats are limited, but Arno has been making great coffee for ages and it’s really worth a trip (hassle them for a dry mac…they froth milk better than anyone, anywhere, ever).

And while you’re there, swing by Mi Ouda a couple blocks north – a great new addition to the Berlin coffee scene. There are others – Bonanza, Godshot, CK – but I never became a regular (read into that what you will!).

You don’t like coffee? Stop reading this blog! I’m not going to list all the tourist sites, but if the weather is good, you should visit the Badeschiff. Originally an art project, it’s a swimming pool floating n the Spree. The graffiti on a nearby building – Good morning Ken + Barbie – is spot on, but why not sun-bake with the beautiful people? It’s €5 to get in, and you can’t bring bottles (but a lock for the lockers will save you €1…).

(as a bonus it’s only 15 minutes walk from Five Elephant… No, I can’t forget the cheesecake…)

Food might be what lets Berlin down a little. There are some definite upsides – awesome fresh produce, it’s really cheap, and there are some great city markets: try Winterfeldplatz (and then Double Eye) or Kollwitzplatz (Prenzlauerberg) on a Saturday and have a fresh fish burger (not the pre-made ones).

There’s also some good mid-range food. Definitely have a burger (or splurge on a steak) at The Bird – close to the Mauerpark. And for something lighter, the Indochinese at Monsieur Vuong (Hackschermarkt) is good. And at the top end, there are some good performers like Tim Raue and the restaurant at Brandenburger Hof. A schnitzel in the foodhall at KaDeWe is also a worthy adventure, and I keep hearing good things about Reinstoff. But for all its creativity – a lot of young chefs experimenting – Berlin feels like the kid who’s a bit alternative because he hasn’t yet grown into himself. After a visit to Paris, the food offerings in the German capital weren’t as exciting anymore.

A final touristy suggestion – take a walk through the Tiergarten. It’s a grand old park, easy to get lost in. Take the time to climb up the Siegessaule – Berlin’s victory column at the centre of the park – peak up the angel’s skirt, and then walk South West toward the zoo to best take in the park. Just watch out for the naked sun-bathers (invariably old men – why is the amount of clothing removed in proportion to the age of the bather?!), which proudly display themselves like confused peacocks in the summer months. Upon reflection, I think I prefer a few lycra-clad MAMILS (Middle Aged Men In Lycra) to the nude Picasso-wannabes (the artist, not his models) wandering the Tiergarten. Apart from that, Berlin is tops. Gute Reise!

]]>https://manversusbean.com/2013/07/09/berlin-a-tale-of-cheesecake-more-coffee-less-lycra/feed/0IMG_3150-6manversusbeanIMG_3097-6IMG_2757-6IMG_3210-6IMG_3150-6IMG_3988BADESCHIFF_sommer_1000x266IMG_3291-6IMG_3117-6IMG_3405-6IMG_3975-6Sydney’s best burgershttps://manversusbean.com/2013/05/19/sydneys-best-burgers/
https://manversusbean.com/2013/05/19/sydneys-best-burgers/#respondSun, 19 May 2013 10:26:19 +0000http://manversusbean.com/?p=991A good burger place is like a good dentist, a good GP or a good mechanic. Actually, scratch that – a burger place is harder to find, won’t make you wait as long and should cost less… I love a Shake Shack burger in NYC, and always head to The Bird for a ghetto burger when in Berlin (counting down the days…). Even Canberra has the famous Brodburger (almost worth the hour wait, somewhat more comfortable since moving to the Glassworks).

But what about Sydney? Here are my two current favourites –

Mary’s in Newtown has been getting good press lately. Despite the building’s reported history as a former STI clinic, it’s an attractive haunt on Mary Street. CrazyCatLady sees the positive – “you can get treated for chlamydia while you wait” (I assume she’s joking) and even MrNobody, a self-titled burger connoisseur (with a weakness for a quarter pounder – we all have a foil), grudgingly liked the Mary’s burger (although he compared it to a whopper…). Add bacon and the price creeps up ($18), but you get a side of chips, friendly service, and a hearty helping of hipsters.

But is it Sydney’s best burger? For me, that award goes to Chur Burger– making magic from the back of Albion St Kitchen in Surry Hills. It’s a small operation – not much more than a driveway – but cheap and cheerful. Not to mention delicious. Unfortunately, a fire a month ago has put business on hold, but expect them to re-open soon. And these burgers are really worth the wait – juicy, generous, well-seasoned with a lovely brioche bun. MrNobody, put down that quarter-pounder and I’ll see you at Chur Burger soon…

Now that I’ve found a good burger joint, does anyone know a good dentist?

]]>https://manversusbean.com/2013/05/19/sydneys-best-burgers/feed/0IMG_1849manversusbeanIMG_1849churburgerDessert, Wine part II (and Rootstock)https://manversusbean.com/2013/04/10/dessert-wine-part-ii-and-rootstock/
https://manversusbean.com/2013/04/10/dessert-wine-part-ii-and-rootstock/#respondWed, 10 Apr 2013 08:31:08 +0000http://manversusbean.com/?p=925We begin with a tale of heartbreak, dear reader. I was preparing to blog about one of the best wine bar desserts I’ve had in a while – a salted caramel semifreddo at 121BC. This stuff is seriously good eating, better even than the salted caramel gelato at Messina.

Soft, creamy, salty, sweet – somehow it goes perfectly with a glass or three of red. The menu is short, and you may need to ask about dessert as it’s not always written on the board, but it’s all focused cooking and designed to be shared. Ribs, quail… I’m amazed they can get so much out of a kitchen the size of a lift. So here’s my plea – for the love of everything delicious and tasty in the world, 121BC, please bring back the salted caramel!

While I’m on my ManVersusGrape soapbox, how good was Rootstock?! I was sceptical about the venue (the Italian Forum at Leichhardt – where Italian food goes to die), but it worked well with some market stalls – I loved washing down a couple slices of lemon drizzle cake from Flour and Stone with a Sample coffee. Then again, a bigger venue like Carriageworks with more stalls would be great too.

Enough bloggers have prattled on about the wines, so let’s focus on dinner. And when I say focus, I mean simply to say it was superb, superb, superb. The bottomless glasses of some really fine wines were well-matched with cooking from some of Australia’s best chefs (including Luke Burgess from Garagistes – my favourite Australian restaurant, but let’s blog on that later). I can’t wait to see the line-up next year (fingers-crossed for one more dessert). Thanks to Matt from Love, Tilly Devine (a brilliant wine bar) for reminding me to book those tickets. Here’s the 2013 menu – let’s see if they can surpass it next year.

]]>https://manversusbean.com/2013/04/10/dessert-wine-part-ii-and-rootstock/feed/0IMG_1060manversusbeanImageImageA steal at Sixpennyhttps://manversusbean.com/2013/02/12/a-steal-at-sixpenny/
https://manversusbean.com/2013/02/12/a-steal-at-sixpenny/#commentsTue, 12 Feb 2013 03:07:59 +0000http://manversusbean.com/?p=912Call me crazy, but I’m sick of degustations. Corby Kummer hit the nail on the head in Vanity Fair when he likened it to tyranny. I’ve sat through degustations at Attica, Sepia and Becasse – all fabulous restaurants which I’ve really enjoyed – with great food, but wondering when the meal will finally end and if I could ask for the last couple courses to-go. It won’t be long before degustation fatigue ends up in the dictionary. I blame all those food-photographing foodies (ignore the photos below) who worship celebrity chefs (ignore my post on Sepia) and swallow whatever the chef deigns to serve – they’re the masochists of the food world, a pack of degustation gimps ruining it for the rest of us. It’s a veritable Fifty Tastes of Grey... But then along comes Sixpenny and my world is turned upside down.

If I had to summarise, I’d say wow. A blind degustation – I lost track of the number of courses, but recommend trying the full menu – with lots of light and tasty combinations brought to the table by the chefs (a nice touch). Goldilocks would be happy – the timing of the courses was just right, and The Bear and I left feeling not too heavy, not too light (but maybe a little tipsy). And such great value for one of the best degustations in Australia!

Food is visual as much as it is taste and smell, and the various courses were beautifully and simply presented – you want to eat this stuff, not just because it tastes good, it looks good. And for a meat eater, I oddly loved the menu because it wasn’t meat heavy – no cliched foie gras, duck, beef, pork, squab… There was enough meat to keep me happy, as well as really, really good servings of seafood and vegetables. In fact, if you twisted my arm and made me name a least favourite, I’d pick the main meat course (the mutton) – still a very lovely dish, but maybe not as strong in flavour as some of the others. My favourite? Hard to pick but maybe the Crab, Silky Macadamia and Camomile combination. Wine lovers will enjoy the list too, with some interesting organic offerings as well as traditional choices.

So all you food gimps out there, as well as carnivores and sufferers of degustation fatigue, give Sixpenny a try. If degustations are tyrannical, then the combination of food, service and venue make the kitchen at Sixpenny the most magical thing – a benign dictatorship.

]]>https://manversusbean.com/2013/02/12/a-steal-at-sixpenny/feed/1manversusbeanIMG_0373IMG_0348Dessert, Winehttps://manversusbean.com/2013/01/28/dessert-wine/
https://manversusbean.com/2013/01/28/dessert-wine/#respondMon, 28 Jan 2013 10:53:10 +0000http://manversusbean.com/?p=587This post isn’t so much about my three favourite wine bars (though they are), as it is about two of my favourite things – dessert and wine. A story of gluttony really – but we’ll get to that.

There are many good venues for a glass of red in Sydney these days, but if I had to recommend my three favourites (in no particular order),they are Love, Tilly Devine, Monopole and 10 William Street. Each has particular strengths, but they all have a solid offering of wines and friendly service – the wine bar essentials.

Their menus are different – try Tilly Devine for smaller tastes, 10 William for solid Italian and Monopole for more cerebral eating. Because I’m in denial about food blogging, I’m not going to ramble about each, except briefly to say what’s good beyond the wine.

I love Tilly Devine for the cured fish / ceviche, the simply but oh-so-fine salami (and I can’t forget the lovely Jasmine – and Matt of course). I hear they’re tinkering with the menu, so fingers-crossed there’s a dessert coming…

Monopole – with its Bentley pedigree – is moody, dark, stylish. There’s some fantastic food (try the blue mackerel with puffed wheat, dried capers and pickled raisins), but the stand-out for me is the nectarine and sorbet dessert, with brown butter curd (yes, Johnpie, you must try).

And finally, there’s 10 William… Great Italian standards like the tagliata and osso bucco (not surprising for a a younger sibling of Fratelli Paradiso), but again the dessert nails it. Occasionally they do a nice special, like the fig tart below. But sometimes staples are the best – and in a night that will never be mentioned again, after a challenge from The Bear, I ate three courses of tiramisu – entree, main and dessert. Strangely, Gemcat and SoFrenchy haven’t joined us for dinner since.

Go for wine, try a main, but make sure you stay for dessert…

]]>https://manversusbean.com/2013/01/28/dessert-wine/feed/0IMG_4451manversusbeanIMG_0281IMG_00701688846-1tiramisuStalking Martinhttps://manversusbean.com/2012/12/20/stalking-martin/
https://manversusbean.com/2012/12/20/stalking-martin/#respondThu, 20 Dec 2012 04:59:51 +0000http://manversusbean.com/?p=582This may sound creepy, but I’ve been stalking Martin for a long time. Following him, turning up unannounced, making demands. It’s not as scary as it sounds – we’re talking about Martin Benn (of Sepia fame), and I’ve been a big fan of his cooking since the Tetsuya’s days (when Tets was in Rozelle – such a lovely, intimate venue, before food bloggers existed; the golden years). Everywhere he’s cooked, the quality of the food – from the ingredients, the composition, to the flavour – has been superb. I still dream about his lobster risotto at Aqua in Hong Kong (good dreams… no, not like that), and the fish at the Boathouse on Blackwattle Bay is some of the best I’ve had, cooked like heaven (but I get why he got sick of cooking the fish pie – it’s such a north shore dish…).

Sepia Restaurant has three well-deserved hats in the good food guide. True to form, they major in seafood, but offer a few meats (wagyu, venison) as well. The wine list is expansive and creative (including a smooth rose from the Bekaa Valley by the glass), service is polished and the staff are friendly. Presentation is excellent too – check out the tuna sashimi below, a work of art.

What’s not to love? My only complaint is it was too hard to pick a favourite dish last night. Oh no, I may have to return and eat everything again. And Martin, please stay put a while, but if you move, I will find you…